How to uninstall CoreSource app/extension from Mac (Virus removal guide)

What is CoreSource

CoreSource is an adware application that targets Mac computers. Adware can cause problems for your MAC. CoreSource can display unwanted adverts on your web-browser so that you cannot stop them, redirect your internet browser to malicious web-sites, and it can cause scam apges to pop up on your web-browser. The adware might end up on your computer after you download and install freeware from a questionable source.

Another reason why you need to remove adware is its online data-tracking activity. The CoreSource adware can collect your Internet surfing activity by recording URLs visited, IP addresses, web browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and web sites visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or user information theft. This is another reason why the CoreSource adware should be deleted as soon as possible..

How does CoreSource get on your Apple Mac

Usually, adware software gets into Mac computers as part of a bundle with free programs, sharing files and other unsafe software that you downloaded from the Web. The creators of adware software pays software creators for distributing adware within their software. So, optional apps is often included as part of the setup file. In order to avoid the install of any adware software: select only Manual, Custom or Advanced install type and reject all bundled applications in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	CoreSource
Type	adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), Mac virus, Mac malware
Detection Names	Adware.MAC.Generic, ApplicUnwnt, Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload, MacOS.Agent-MT, OSX.Trojan.Gen, Adware/Adload!OSX, Osx.Adware.Cimpli and Program:MacOS/Vigram.A
Distribution	Freeware installers, fake update tools, shady pop up advertisements and torrent downloads
Symptoms	When you go to a web-site, you’re randomly redirected to another web-site that you do not intend to visit, you experience lots of of unexpected advertisements, there is an unwanted program in the ‘Applications’ section of the Finder, unwanted web browser add-ons or toolbars keep coming back, your internet browser search engine has changed without your permission, fast Internet but slow browsing speeds.
Removal	CoreSource removal guide

How to Remove CoreSource adware (removal tutorial)

We can help you remove CoreSource ads from your web browsers, without the need to take your MAC to a professional. Simply follow the removal instructions below if you currently have the annoying adware on your Apple Mac and want to delete it. If you have any difficulty while trying to get rid of the adware, feel free to ask for our assist in the comment section below. Certain of the steps will require you to reboot your MAC OS or close this web-page. So, read this tutorial carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove CoreSource, use the steps below:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Remove CoreSource associated software by using the Finder
3. Remove CoreSource related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove CoreSource from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stay safe online

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

CoreSource can make changes to the Mac system such as malicious changes to browser settings, and the addition of malicious system profiles. You need to check the system preferences, find and remove malicious profiles and ensure your settings are as you expect.

Click the System Preferences icon ( ) in the Dock, or choose Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, click Profiles, then select a profile associated with CoreSource.

Click the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen to remove the profile.
Note: if you do not see Profiles in the System Preferences, that means there are no profiles installed on your Mac, which is normal.

Remove CoreSource associated software by using the Finder

Some PUPs, adware and browser hijackers may be deleted by uninstalling the freeware they came with. If this way does not succeed, then looking them up in the list of installed programs in the Finder. Use the “Move to Trash” command in order to get rid of them.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

It will open a list of all apps installed on your machine. Scroll through the all list, and delete any suspicious and unknown applications. Right click to suspicious application and choose “Move to Trash”. Another solution is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most important, scroll through the all list, and move to trash any unknown applications. Don’t forget, select Finder -> Empty Trash.

Remove CoreSource related files and folders

Now you need to try to find CoreSource related files and folders, and then delete them manually. You need to look for these files in certain directories. To quickly open them, we recommend using the “Go to Folder…” command.

CoreSource creates several files, these files must be found and removed. Below is a list of files associated with this unwanted program.

• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.CoreSource.system.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.CoreSource.service.plist
• /Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/System/com.CoreSource.system
• ~/Library/Application Support/.(RANDOM)/Services/com.CoreSource.service.app

Some files created by CoreSource are hidden from the user. To find and delete them, you need to enable “show hidden files”. To do this, use the shortcut CMD + SHIFT + . Press once to show hidden files and again to hide them. There is another way. Click Finder -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal. In Terminal, paste the following text: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Press Enter. Hold the ‘Option/alt’ key, then right click on the Finder icon in the dock and click Relaunch.

Click on the Finder icon. From the menu bar, select Go and click “Go to Folder…”. As a result, a small window opens that allows you to quickly open a specific directory.

Check for CoreSource generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchAgents

This will open the contents of the “/Library/LaunchAgents” folder. Look carefully at it and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files: installapp.plist, com.net-preferences.plist, com.CoreSource.service.plist, com.machelper.plist, search.plist, macsearch.plist and com.google.defaultsearch.plist, . Most often, adware software, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers create several files with similar names.

Check for CoreSource generated files in the /Library/Application Support folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/Application Support

This will open the contents of the “Application Support” folder. Look carefully at its contents, pay special attention to recently added/changed folders and files. Check the contents of suspicious folders, if there is a file with a name similar to com.CoreSource.system, then this folder must be deleted. Move all suspicious folders and files to the Trash.

Check for CoreSource generated files in the “~/Library/LaunchAgents” folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
~/Library/LaunchAgents

Proceed in the same way as with the “/Library/LaunchAgents” and “/Library/Application Support” folders. Look for suspicious and recently added files. Move all suspicious files to the Trash.

Check for CoreSource generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchDaemons

Carefully browse the entire list of files and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files to be deleted: com.macsearch.system.plist, com.installapp.system.plist, com.machelper.system.plist, com.search.system.plist and com.CoreSource.system.plist. In most cases, browser hijackers, PUPs and adware create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

You can remove CoreSource related files automatically with a help of MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM). We recommend this free malicious software removal utility because it may easily get rid of potentially unwanted programs, adware software, toolbars and browser hijackers with all their components such as files, folders and system entries.

Download MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) on your machine by clicking on the link below.

When the downloading process is finished, close all programs and windows on your Apple Mac. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will automatically start and you can see its main screen as displayed in the figure below.

Now press the “Scan” button for scanning your machine for the CoreSource adware. While the MalwareBytes AntiMalware is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malware.

As the scanning ends, MalwareBytes Free will display a screen which contains a list of malware that has been detected. Review the results once the tool has finished the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click the “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes will remove CoreSource adware and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine.

Remove CoreSource from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you’re still getting CoreSource adware software, then you can try to remove it by deleting harmful addons.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Chrome window. In the menu go to ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove CoreSource by reset Google Chrome settings.	Click on ‘menu’ button and select ‘Add-ons’. Go to ‘Extensions’ tab. To uninstall an add-on, click on ‘Remove’ button next to it. If you are still experiencing issues with CoreSource adware removal, you need to reset Firefox browser.
Safari
On the top menu select ‘Safari’, then ‘Preferences’. Select ‘Extensions’ tab. Select an extension you want to delete and click ‘Uninstall’ button next to it.

How to stay safe online

The AdGuard is a very good adblocker application for the Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of intrusive ads, popunders, popups, annoying newtab pages, and even full page ads and web page overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can stop harmful web-pages automatically or by using a custom filter rule.

Please go to the following link to download the latest version of AdGuard for Mac.

Once downloading is finished, run the downloaded file. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen.

Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick instructions. Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your MAC, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop annoying advertisements, block malicious and misleading webpages.

Finish words

Once you have removed the adware using this steps, Chrome, Firefox and Safari will no longer display any unwanted ads. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.